At Direct Interiors we are extremely proud of the furniture we sell, we’ve invested an enormous amount of time and resources in making sure our quality and value are as high as they can possibly be. However, we know from years of experience that all too often companies will make claims about the quality of their oak furniture, which are not always correct. Therefore, below is a list of the features you will find in good quality, well made, solid oak furniture. And remember, if in doubt, ask before you buy.
• Is the item of furniture made entirely from solid oak? Furniture will often be sold as ‘solid oak’ when in fact it is made from a combination of oak, veneers and other woods. Always ask the question; is it 100% solid oak throughout? Or have other materials been used? Even after harvesting, timber will continue to move, but different species of wood will move at varying rates, therefore, furniture made from a combination of different woods can often be very unstable.
• Are the drawers fully dovetailed and made from solid oak? Drawers can be subjected to a great deal of use and frequently over loaded, therefore construction is important. Ask the following questions; are the drawers dovetailed on all 4 corners? Often they will only be dovetailed at the front, which is a complete waste of time. Is the drawer base solid oak? Again, very often inferior woods or veneers will be used, which will eventually give way. And are the drawer sides and back solid oak or only the drawer front? It is common practice to use inferior wood to make the drawer sides and back, creating an unstable drawer box.
• Are the door frames mortice and tenon jointed? Many door frames are simply doweled together, which is a cheap, weak method of construction and can lead to the door twisting and bowing out of shape.
• Are the panels within the door frames and in the furniture sides and backs solid oak? Veneers and inferior woods are often used to the great detriment of overall quality and stability. Remember, wood will naturally expand and contract, but different species of timber move at varying rates, therefore a structure made from different types of wood is potentially very unstable.
• Do the doors have a catch top and bottom to keep them closed when not in use? Doors with a single catch will often twist and bow out of shape
• Is the furniture completely sealed inside and out? This is absolutely critical. Solid oak furniture manufactured properly will be made from ‘steam kiln' dried oak, not just kiln dried oak. Kiln drying carried out correctly will create a very stable material to work from by allowing a certain amount of moisture to remain in the timber. If the furniture is not properly sealed i.e. 100% inside and out, it will quickly dry out and split. Ask before you buy!
• Is any glass used in the furniture, toughened safety glass? This is particularly important if children are likely to come into contact with the furniture
What we offer
• When we describe something as ‘solid oak’ we mean 100% solid oak throughout, every square inch!
• ALL of our doors are manufactured using mortice and tenon joints and have a door catch fitted top and bottom
• ALL of our drawers are fully dovetailed front and rear
• ALL of our oak furniture is manufactured using ‘steam dried oak’
• ALL of our furniture is 100% sealed internally and externally
• ALL of our furniture has a high quality, low maintenance finish
Pre-purchase tips
With so many varying options available, selecting the right furniture for your home can be a complicated task. Design, functionality, material, quality, colour, size and price, are just a few of the points to be considered before making a final decision.
Therefore, in order to help you make the right decision, we have drawn up a list of the most salient points to be considered, along with some of the pitfalls to be avoided.
• Does the item you wish to buy offer genuine value for money? Whether you feel something is cheap or expensive is subjective. What is far more important is feeling reassured that you have spent wisely.
• Does the item genuinely meet your requirements, or are you making compromises? Spending a little more today, in order to buy something which has the functionality you genuinely need, can often save many pounds in the longer term.
• If you intend to buy matching items of furniture over a period of time, until you have all the pieces you need, make sure the range you have chosen will still be available.
• Consider the finish of the furniture. Today it is no longer necessary to buy furniture which requires messy re-oiling several times a year. Modern high quality, low level sheens, offer a durable, maintenance free finish, without the need for a cheap glossy appearance.
• Check the sizes before you buy. Very often people forget to check the dimensions of the item they are buying, only to find it is either too small, too big or won’t fit through a door or up the stairs.
• Quality is critical and not necessarily expensive. Spending only 10 or 15% more for an item, can often mean 100% improvement in quality.
